Saturday, 5 July 2014

Awaydays 1.

We had a good run down via the scenic route to our daughters where we were staying for a few days. While we were there we were on babysitting duties. It was wonderful to play balloons and football with our youngest grandson who is now toddling about by himself. We also dropped off and met our other grandson from school who has now learnt how to balance on his little scooter, hurrah! We very much enjoyed bathing them and reading stories with them before bedtime. We also managed to squeeze in a visit for some of our favourite ice-cream which is made on site on Minchinhampton Common, delicious.

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Our Story

It all started many years ago, that many, we cannot remember why but we booked a narrowboat for two weeks.I set about trying to find as much information as possible, so as not to look like a complete idiot, read the books did some 'gongoozling'.

The day arrived and we were given a handover, taken up the canal for about half an hour, 'instructor' said "You are a natural"................. Ha! Ha! Ha! I didn't believe him but it did my ego good.

It is all history now but suffice it to say we caught the bug.Have hired many times since.

Hence, ordering the boat in 2005 to start being built in 2007. Two year waiting list.Oakfield arrived late, no ones fault just lots of delays that could not be expected.

The saga continues........................................

Why Oakfield

Like many before us the choosing of a name for our boat came after a fair amount of discussion.

After two years of agreeing to disagree, the subject was dropped, it was decided that a name would appear from the ether.

Oakfield was that name.

When we married, we moved into a one bedroom flat on the top floor of a house in Oakfield Road, West Croydon.

Whilst living there, we did not know that the railway at the bottom of the garden was the route of the Croydon Canal.

We only found this out many years later when our interest in canals started.

The Croydon Canalopened in 1809. It was built over by the railway line from London Bridge to West Croydon in 1836.

The canal only lasted 27 years.

The marriage has lasted a little longer.

So after 37 years we are going full circle.

We are now moving onto a one bedroom boat that is probably just as large as that flat, hence Oakfield.